Focusing on European countries Beginning with A10 #46, Eurovision presents an overview of the current state of architecture in a specific European country. In this issue, the focus is Italy. Each country’s guest editor will use eight categories – Global, Future, Urban, etc. – to formulate a perspective. A special feature, ‘The dark side of…’, asks the difficult questions: what is actually going wrong in a country? Our Italian guest editor, from the Italian Association of Architecture and Criticism (AIAC), is the first to tackle it. Eurovision can therefore also take a critical stand against the prevailing national architectural climate. Parallel to the 2012 Venice Biennale, Eurovision reveals the underlying themes in a country where good architects are forced to flee their own national borders.

Art of glass Section deals with current trends and relationships in technology and materials. In order to go deeper into the links between concept and result, innovation and use, and corporate and social identity, A10 chooses one project to be more thoroughly scrutinized in each issue. This time it is the Rieteiland House in Amsterdam (NL) by Hans van Heeswijk Architects.

Ten must-see pavilions in Venice The Giardini have always offered a reflection of events around the globe. Hosting more than 50 nations, the International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale provides a mapping of world architecture. The Italian Association of Architecture and Criticism has selected the ten pavilions most worth visiting. Each proposes its own vision of architecture, often diametrically opposed to the theme ofCommon Ground, and in some cases, far more stimulating.